CH 151

Confession

Translated by NotBlueYet

Edited by -

The hole in the back of the portrait.

I step into it.

Then, suddenly, it switched to a dimly lit cave-like passage.

It’s a dim, dank place.

The walls are craggy and the lights are evenly spaced.

It was a place that had been forcibly hollowed out of the earth, and because it was not paved at all, rocks had been left in places.

“Spatial transitions: …… or eigenspaces?”

Shallot mutters.

If you were to physically break through the wall where the portrait is hanging, it would lead to another classroom.

But out of the corner of my eye, the passage continues.

From the looks of it, I’d say it’s the spatial transference one.

If it were native space, it would be a more man-made place.

It could be a trap.

Shallot grabbed the sleeve of the uniform tightly, and let out a frightened voice.

I don’t see why you can’t just say that now and move on.

We started running down a straight, single track road.

“Can you help Natalie?”

Shallot spoke to me in a nervous voice.

We have to help him.

It’s not about what choices you can or can’t make.

I have to do it.

“Senpai is… strong.”

Shallot lets her voice trail off.

“I’m not strong… I’m scared too.”

The thought of not being able to help them almost makes me cringe with fear.

But I just don’t want to wallow in my inadequacies anymore.

I don’t want to lose anyone I care about.

Shallot takes one look at me and says, “Senpai,” in a voice.

What is it?

When I asked her back, she took a deep breath and then told me.

I” like it.”

Yeah?

What did Shallot just say?

I thought I heard wrong, and even as I ran, I looked twice at Shallot’s face.

From the serious look on her face, I realize that what she just said is not a joke.

If this were the back of the school building after school, I would have been thrilled with this situation.

And I’m sure you were wondering how to reply.

Maybe it was such a sweet and sour adolescence.

But now is the time when every second counts.

This is not the time to stop and think about your response, nor is it the time to indulge in romance.

Not now, you don’t.

I said coldly.

‘I’m telling you this because I’m in a situation like this, and I might not be able to tell you, and it might be the last time.”

Shallot was laughing, but her voice was trembling.

What is taking place now is a battle for life.

Farren, Emilia, Berg, and Katherina-sensei are all fighting desperately.

It’s a battle that could kill you.

How can you not be scared?

It’s because of this situation that she confessed to me, I realize.

If Shallot says she’s ready, then I have to answer seriously.

Of course, vague replies and withholding are out of the question.

I paused, and Shallot paused with me.

And I make eye contact with her.

“I’m sorry, I can’t reciprocate Shallot’s feelings, I like Natalie.”

My true feelings flooded out of my mouth, more easily than I thought they would.

I like Natalie Alderato a lot.

I love Natalie’s stubborn, responsible, hard-working, but also a little mischievous personality.

I love the way she talks so maturely and laugh so graciously.

I love her shiny blonde hair and her clear blue eyes.

I like that she can use lightning magic in a cool way.

I don’t want to think about the fact that I’ve been by your side all these years and that you’re gone.

It’s situations like this that make me realize how honest I really am.

Just the thought of her disappearing gives me a terrible sense of loss.

It’s an emotional experience.

The only thing that rules my mind right now is a crippling fear.

The magnitude of this fear, ironically, conveys how much Natalie loves her.

“I liked Natalie, you know.”

“I’ve known that for a long time, and I’ve always wondered why they haven’t gotten together. It’s too late for that, really.”

Shallot lowers her eyes.

I wish we had talked about these things when we were more normal.

I had plenty of time for other things.

“I haven’t been able to tell you how I really feel, so thank you.”

“Would you tell that to the person who dumped you…? It’s really disgusting.”

Shallot confessing to me at a time like this is pretty much the same thing.

I thought so, but didn’t say it out loud.

It’s not that I want to blame Shallot, but I wanted these events to happen in the midst of casual everyday life.

“Let’s help, I know Natalie and I disagreed a lot, but she’s always been my hero, so let’s definitely help.”

Shallot said forcefully, with determined eyes.

She seems to have blown something out of proportion with the conversation we just had.

At the same time, I got my courage from Shallot.

I nodded broadly, “Of course.”

I was determined to help Natalie.